Stair Lift Elevator

What exactly is a stair lift elevator? This actually seems to be a broad term to describe an installation designed to make it possible for elderly or disabled people to ascend or descend the stairs in their home in safety and without any discomfort.

If you or a family member is handicapped or disabled in any way so that using the stairs is out of the question then you definitely are in need of some help to get you over this problem.

Why be confined to just the lower level of your home when there is a way for you to retain the use of your complete home. The most common definition of a stair lift elevator is the chair stair lift. This comprises a seat attached to a rail which is motorized and can carry a passenger up or down the stairs with no effort on their part other than pressing a control button.

The seated kind of lift is naturally suitable for anyone who can bend their knees to sit in comfort.
If the prospective user has some kind of problem with their knees or hips that makes sitting a problem then they might find a different type of lift to be more fitting for their needs.

There is one type which is a platform so that the passenger can stand while travelling and this type of lift is equipped with a very secure guard rail for the passenger to hold onto. Unfortunately this type does not lend itself to having a safety belt as you might find on the seated kind of lift. The user needs to be able to retain their balance simply by holding onto the rail.

There is another type which is sort of part standing part, sitting, this is known as a ‘perching’ lift. What this has is a tiny seat which is placed around the buttock level so that the passenger can simply rest themselves on the edge whilst not being seated properly and thus having to bend their knees. This again should have a safety rail to hold onto.

Another kind is aimed at wheelchair users, this is a platform that the wheelchair can be wheeled onto, the wheelchair secured and then the lift set in motion. When the end of the journey is reached, either up or down, the chair can be simply propelled off the platform.

This type can also come in useful if someone needs to use crutches or sticks. It would definitely be more safe than trying to manipulate sticks and mount stairs or descend stairs, too tricky and definitely dangerous.

It is a well known fact that the stairs in a home are the most dangerous part and more home accidents occur on the stairs than anywhere else.

If you were thinking along the lines of an actual elevator then you are looking at substantial structural alterations in your home, plus you would need to have adequate space where the elevator would be sited. This naturally enough is going to be a lot more expensive.

A less expensive alternative might be the ‘through floor’ type. This comprises an enclosed platform, with three surround panels and an entrance/exit door. The alteration needed for this is simply an opening in the upper floor where you would want the platform to travel to. This is nowhere near as invasive as a regular elevator and can be fitted more quickly and less expensively.

The bonus with this is that when the passenger retires for the night they can simply send the lift downwards so that it is out of the way for the night. In the morning they can simply call it back to use to come downstairs and then they can do the reverse – send it back upstairs for the daytime, unless it is needed inbetween.

Whatever your needs, there is a type of stair lift elevator to suit you. You simply need to spend some time, researching, to find the best installation for you, at the right price for you.

Standing Stair Lift